Connector for inspection system of elevator tension member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9828216-B2
Application number	US-201415119463-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2014
Priority date	Feb 18, 2014
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

An electrical inspection system for an elevator load bearing member includes an electrically conductive, low resistance wrap located at the load bearing member, contacting the load bearing member around a circumference of the load bearing member. An inspection unit is configured to apply an electrical current through the load bearing member and determine an electrical resistance of the load bearing member, and is electrically connected to the load bearing member at the wrap to distribute electrical current uniformly therethrough. A method of determining an electrical resistance of a load bearing member of an elevator system includes applying an electrically conductive low electrical resistance wrap entirely around a circumference of the load bearing member. An inspection unit is connected to the load bearing member at the wrap. An electrical current is applied through the wrap into the load bearing member to determine an electrical resistance of the load bearing member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrical inspection system for an elevator load bearing member comprising:
an electrically conductive, low resistance wrap disposed at the load bearing member, and uniformly contacting the load bearing member around a circumference of the load bearing member; and
an inspection unit configured to apply an electrical current through the load bearing member and determine an electrical resistance of the load bearing member;
wherein the inspection unit is electrically connected to the load bearing member at the wrap to distribute electrical current uniformly through the load bearing member.

2. The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the wrap is secured to the load bearing member.

3. The inspection system of claim 2 , wherein the wrap is secured to the load bearing member by one of a tie or a clamp.

4. The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the wrap is formed from a copper material.

5. The inspection system of any of claim 1 , wherein the load bearing member is a rope formed from a plurality of metallic wires.

6. The inspection system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of wires are twisted into a plurality of strands thereby forming the rope.

7. The inspection system of claim 6 , wherein the wrap extends along a length of the rope equal to at least one strand lay length of the rope.

8. A method of determining an electrical resistance of a load bearing member of an elevator system comprising:
applying an electrically conductive low electrical resistance wrap entirely around a circumference of the load bearing member;
connecting an inspection unit to the load bearing member at the wrap;
applying an electrical current through the wrap into the load bearing member; and
determining an electrical resistance of the load bearing member via the inspection unit.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising securing the wrap to the load bearing member.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising securing the wrap to the load bearing member via one or more of a tie or a clamp.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising comparing the determined electrical resistance to a previous determined electrical resistance.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein a change in the electrical resistance is indicative of wear of the load bearing member.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the wrap is formed from a copper material.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the load bearing member is a rope formed from a plurality of metallic wires.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of wires are arranged in a plurality of strands, the wrap extending along a length of the rope equal to at least one strand lay length of the rope.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Berben Ruth
• Fargo Richard N
• Liaskas Peter

Classifications

• B66B7/1223 Primary

  by analysing electric variables · CPC title

• G01N27/041

  of a solid body · CPC title

• B66B5/0031

  for safety reasons · CPC title

• B66B5/0087

  Devices facilitating maintenance, repair or inspection tasks (devices incorporated in the buffer B66B5/288; railings on top of the car B66B11/0226) · CPC title